• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Is the U.S.A. de facto an empire?

Is the U.S.A. de facto an empire?

  • No

    Votes: 26 53.1%

  • Yes

    Votes: 23 46.9%

  • Can't make up my mind

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    49
Canell

Canell

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
3,851
Reaction score
1,170
Location
EUSSR
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Libertarian
So, is it? :2razz:
 
I might be tempted to use the term hegemony, but not empire.
 
Canell said:
So, is it? :2razz:
Click to expand...

It certainly has some imperialistic tendencies, though I'm not sure if it qualifies as an actual "empire."

em·pire

/ˈemˌpī(ə)r/

noun

noun: empire; plural noun: empires

1. an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly esp. an emperor or empress.
Click to expand...

The only country we control with "supreme" authority is our own. Even then, that authority is Democratic in basis.
 
Last edited:
No, it's not an empire. Military occupation in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq don't make a nation an empire especially since the political government hasn't been usurped from the people, but rather, given back to the people.

If the USA would decide to conquer Mexico, then it would be an empire. Or annex Iraq or Afghanistan...
Democratic empires can exist Gathomas. The Roman Republic was an empire... but it was also a democracy (until you know, it stopped being).
 
Gathomas88 said:
It certainly has some imperialistic tendencies, though I'm not sure if it qualifies as an actual "empire."



The only country we control with "supreme" authority is our own. Even then, that authority is Democratic in basis.
Click to expand...

While I agree that the United States isn't a traditional empire anymore, and that it only has supreme authority over itself, I would like to point out that the British Empire was the most powerful and largest empire in history, but was still democratic.
 
Rainman05 said:
No, it's not an empire. Military occupation in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq don't make a nation an empire especially since the political government hasn't been usurped from the people, but rather, given back to the people.

If the USA would decide to conquer Mexico, then it would be an empire. Or annex Iraq or Afghanistan...
Democratic empires can exist Gathomas. The Roman Republic was an empire... but it was also a democracy (until you know, it stopped being).
Click to expand...

True, but it kind of depends on what you mean by "empire." Democratic states may behave like Empires, but they generally tend not to be labeled with the title unless they become blatantly authoritarian.

Most text-books will refer to the Roman state prior to Augustus as being the "Roman Republic" even in spite of it's numerous acts of imperialistic conquest.
 
Ad_Captandum said:
While I agree that the United States isn't a traditional empire anymore, and that it only has supreme authority over itself, I would like to point out that the British Empire was the most powerful and largest empire in history, but was still democratic.
Click to expand...

It was, technically speaking, a Constitutional Monarchy. Additionally, I was under the impression that the English Monarchy only gained the "imperial" moniker after taking over India, anyway.
 
Canell said:
So, is it? :2razz:
Click to expand...

I do not think that I would go with the word empire. True, there are similarities in expanse and capability to project power. But empires have a different internal structure that means their motivations are also different, not really seeking domination other than as an instrument of self protection ie the safety of it populace. I think I would go with Gardener that it is more a hegemony, though, by default.
 
There were some periods in our history, where we expanded like an Empire.
Manifest Destiny and all that, but since the late 1800's our pattern
has not been conqueror and subjugate, but rather liberate and subsidize.
 
No, this is just a stupid narrative that high school kids get excited about.
 
Gathomas88 said:
True, but it kind of depends on what you mean by "empire." Democratic states may behave like Empires, but they generally tend not to be labeled with the title unless they become blatantly authoritarian.

Most text-books will refer to the Roman state prior to Augustus as being the "Roman Republic" even in spite of it's numerous acts of imperialistic conquest.
Click to expand...

Well they call it the Roman Republic because there still was a Senate worth a damn and there was no Emperor. The highest offices were Consuls which were 2 in number. So that is why it is called the Roman Republic. It was empire by standard definition which you posted because numerous other nations were under the control of the Roman Senate. Egypt, Judeea, Greece, Iberia and much of the lands between.

The French Republic was a republic (the 1st->4th republic)but it was still an overseas colonial empire until after WW2 (the 5th republic was formed after WW2 and it stopped being a colonial empire).

Somebody said that the British empire was democratic above... that is not quite true. The "K" in the UK means Kingdom. It's a kingdom because the head of state is the monarch. You call a republic as such because the head of state is a republican denomination (like President) or in the case of the SPQR-> Consuls.
Ad_Captandum said:
While I agree that the United States isn't a traditional empire anymore, and that it only has supreme authority over itself, I would like to point out that the British Empire was the most powerful and largest empire in history, but was still democratic.
Click to expand...

Not true.. read above the last paragraph.
 
I voted no, but I would like to point out that the US has some very expansionist and monarchical tendencies, especially when under the Democratic party's control.
 
ecofarm said:
If human rights and democracy are imperialist, then imperialism is good.
Click to expand...

I never said anything about imperialism being good or bad, Eco. Just asking if the U.S. is an empire. :)
 
Canell said:
I never said anything about imperialism being good or bad, Eco. Just asking if the U.S. is an empire. :)
Click to expand...

I was responding to your post and linked article. That's why I quoted you. You began our discussion.
 
No. We don't have colonies across the globe and haven't made sport of conquering far away land rampantly like the Romans.
 
If you can loan other countries money when you are in extreme debt AND keep inflation from going up, you might be an empire.
 
I don't think so. America would have to conqueror lands in order to become that. America really hasn't conquered any lands. Even when the Native Americans we're forced out America was still a British Colony. If we took over Mexico...then perhaps we could be called a empire. Speaking of which...that might actually improve those nations...kind of a sad thought there.
 
Constantine said:
I don't think so. America would have to conqueror lands in order to become that. America really hasn't conquered any lands. Even when the Native Americans we're forced out America was still a British Colony. If we took over Mexico...then perhaps we could be called a empire. Speaking of which...that might actually improve those nations...kind of a sad thought there.
Click to expand...

Well, look who's here - emperor Constantine! Just kidding, pall. :lol:
Now, definitions are conditional. I'd rather look at the essence. ;)
 
First, I have a question: What countries does the USA totally control besides the USA?
 
Muhammed said:
I voted no, but I would like to point out that the US has some very expansionist and monarchical tendencies, especially when under the Democratic party's control.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...




Since you have said what you have said I would like to point out that you are full of it.
 
Last edited:
shrubnose said:
First, I have a question: What countries does the USA totally control besides the USA?
Click to expand...

The Holy Roman Empire lasted 844 years. I don't think the Emperor was in total control all the time. :) In fact:

The power of the emperor was limited, and while the various princes, lords and kings of the Empire were vassals and subjects who owed the emperor their allegiance, they also possessed an extent of privileges that gave them de facto sovereignty within their territories.

Source: Wikipedia
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom